by Graeme Hurry
Everett nodded. When night fell he was sure that if Tael was left alone with the woman he’d try something. Probably Hervold too. “Alright. I’ll ride behind the wagon and make sure nothing happens.”
“Not good enough. You’re gonna ride in the wagon with the woman. You get to keep her company.”
Caralyn had been listening to their exchange and walked over to them. “There’s no need for this man to ride in the wagon with me. I’ll offer no trouble, I just want to get to Vandin safely.”
Rohlind turned towards Caralyn and his eyes went hard. His hands balled into fists and it looked like he would strike her, but instead got up close and said, “You’ll do exactly as you’re told, girl. Don’t get confused here. We aren’t your servants or your guards. We’re murderers and rapists and if you don’t obey me, I’ll let one of my boys have a go at you, no matter how much gold it costs me.”
Caralyn wilted under Rohlind’s glare and took an involuntary step back. “Yes, of course. I’m sorry, I’ll do whatever you say.”
“Get in the carriage,” Rohlind growled, then wandered off to talk to Hervold and Tael.
“Let’s get in. You’ve already angered Rohlind enough.”
Caralyn turned to Everett in surprise, as if she forget he was there, then nodded. Together they walked to the carriage, and Everett helped her up, then followed in behind her.
* * *
The sun was setting and Everett was trying not to fall asleep. He had never ridden in a carriage before and the rocking motion was soothing. The only thing keeping him awake was the woman sitting across from him. Whenever she wasn’t looking, he’d steal a glance at her and try to commit her face to memory. He was pretty sure that she hadn’t noticed.
“Why do you keep staring at me?” Caralyn asked with a grin. “Do you not see many women?”
Everett’s face turned red and he struggled to think of something to say. In the stories he read as a boy, ladies always liked to talk to men who were witty and made them laugh. Nothing came to mind. “I’ve seen lots of women. Just not like you.”
“You mean you haven’t seen many blonde women?”
Everett knew she was making fun of him, but didn’t care. While they were talking he could look at her all he wanted and not feel embarrassed. Her eyes were like two shimmering oceans he wanted to spend his life exploring. “No, I’ve seen lots of blonde women. You’re just different than most of the women I’ve met. I grew up on a small farm outside Rallowburg and we didn’t see many rich folk.”
Caralyn’s smile disappeared and she bit her lower lip. “You were a farmer?” Caralyn finally asked after sitting quietly for a moment. Before waiting for a reply she said, “Why did you become a bandit?”
Everett was taken aback by the questions. He didn’t like to talk about his past. It would take several days to make it Vandin’s lands though, and talking was better than sitting around in silence.
“There’s not much money in farming, not in Rallowburg anyway. The ground doesn’t give food easily, but it’s all my family have ever known.” Everett reluctantly turned away from Caralyn, he found it easier to concentrate on his story looking out at the hilly countryside, instead of her. “One day an army recruiter came through our village and promised us gold and a chance to see faraway lands if we signed up. It sounded a lot better than breaking my back farming all my life, so me, and two other boys signed up the next day. I’m not sure what happened to them, dead I suppose.”
Everett pointed out at the hills in the distance. “These hills remind me of a place my family would go to once a year to get away from the farm. They were covered in yellow and white wildflowers, and I would spend hours picking out the most perfect flowers to give to my mother. They smelled sweet, like candy, and my mother would tie them in her hair and father would tell her that she was the prettiest woman alive. That was before I joined the army and went off to become a man.”
Caralyn smiled. “That place sounds wonderful.”
“It was. I hope someday I’ll get to go back there,” Everett said quietly.
“It must have been frightening to leave everything you know and go off to war. Is that where you injured your leg?”
Everett turned back to Caralyn and asked, “What do you care? You don’t know what people like us have to go through. You’re going to marry some rich nobleman.”
“You don’t know what I had to go through either,” Caralyn said hotly. The oceans in her eyes turned stormy and she clenched her fists. “When my parents died, I had to move in with my uncle, who was cruel and would often pay late night visits to my room. You may have been poor, but I bet you never had to lay awake at night in fear, listening for footsteps in the dark.”
Caralyn looked away and wiped at her eyes. Everett felt a lump in his stomach as he pictured her as a child, laying in the dark, alone and afraid. He didn’t have much growing up, but his family all loved each other and his parents would never harm him. He couldn’t imagine what it would be like fearing for your safety in your own home.
Everett put his hand on Caralyn’s arm and whispered, “I’m sorry. I have no right to judge you. You’ve been kind to me, even after all that’s happened, and I repaid your kindness with cruel words. I’ve forgotten how to be anything but cruel and hard, I think.”
“We’ve each had difficult times in our past,” Caralyn said and turned back towards him. “You’ll keep me safe tonight though, won’t you? Safe from the others? I know you’re a bandit, but you seem different from your friends.”
Everett nodded. “I’ll keep you safe until we get to you to your betrothed.”
Caralyn put her hand on Everett’s and said, “Thank you.”
Loud banging on the door stopped them from saying more. The door swung open and Tael’s grinning face appeared. “Rohlind says you’re supposed to get food for you and the lady. It’ll be a full moon, but it’s still too dark to travel at night with this carriage. We’re campin’ here.”
“Alright. I’ll be right back,” Everett said.
Caralyn nodded and Everett hopped out of the carriage. He limped over to the fire and saw Rohlind and Hervold already eating. Everett nodded to them and reached down to grab two bowls and spoons.
“How’s your girlfriend doing?” Hervold asked and began to chuckle.
Everett looked over to him and replied, “She’s fine. A bit scared, but that’s to be expected.”
“That girl’s gonna make us a lot of money. Vandin is supposed to have iron mines all over the Faelwind Mountains and supplies the Queen’s army with weapons. We might be able to retire after this one, boys.” Rohlind smiled and took another spoonful of stew.
“Yeah, that’d be great.” Everett said.
“Unless Tael gets his hands on her. Did you leave him with your lady alone, Everett?” Hervold asked.
“You’re supposed to be looking out for her!” Rohlind bellowed.
Everett looked around and felt his pulse quicken in fear, as he realized Tael didn’t follow him back to the fire. Everett dropped the bowls and started limping back to the carriage as quickly as he could. He yanked open the door and saw Tael on top of Caralyn, with one hand over her mouth and the other tearing at her clothes.
Tael turned around and grinned, “You just wait your turn, Everett. I know you don’t like to take a woman like this, but this one sure is pretty, huh? I bet even you will give her a ride!” Tael turned back to Caralyn and tore open the bodice of her dress.
Everett made a fist and slammed it into the back of Tael’s head. Tael went limp and Everett grabbed him by the neck and threw him to the ground. “I’m so sorry Caralyn, I thought Tael was right behind me. Are you alright?”
Caralyn wiped tears from her eyes and tried to pull her torn dress over her exposed chest. “He didn’t hurt me, just frightened me a bit.”
Everett undid his cloak and handed it to Caralyn, “Here, this should keep you warm. Do you have other clothes you can change into it?”
Caralyn was a
bout to respond, then her eyes widened and she pointed behind Everett, “Look out!”
Everett’s shoulder exploded in pain as Tael stabbed him. He cried out and swung with his fist as he turned, trying to strike Tael, but missed.
“What’s your problem, Everett?” Tael waved two daggers menacingly. “We’re supposed to be on the same side.”
“You aren’t to touch her,” Everett said and checked his wound. “You heard Rohlind.”
“He won’t mind if we take a ride. She isn’t gonna tell her sweetie about it anyway. Lords don’t like to hear about their ladies nasty little secrets.”
Everett drew his sword and held it between him and Tael. “I can’t let you do that, Tael. Go back to the fire and eat your dinner.”
Tael’s eyes widened in surprise. “You’re a fool,” Tael exclaimed, then charged at Everett.
Everett swung his sword instinctually and Tael tried to block it with his daggers. Everett had been a soldier though, and fought in battles against trained warriors. Tael was just a cutpurse turned bandit. Everett’s sword severed Tael’s right hand and Tael began to scream. Everett swung again, and Tael’s head landed beside his hand, silencing his cries.
“Everett! What’s going on over there?” Rohlind yelled.
Rohlind’s voice spurred Everett into action. The other two might accept that he had acted in self-defense, but then again, they might not. Their first rule had always been that they would never draw steel on each other in anger. Tael may have done it first, but Everett was the one who did the killing.
Everett grabbed a horse from the front of the carriage before yelling out, “Nothing! Tael and I had a bit of a fight, but we sorted it out! No harm done!”
“Are you hurt?” Caralyn asked as Everett brought the horse to the back of the carriage.
“I’ll be fine, but we need to go now.”
“Alright,” Caralyn replied then held her hand out to Everett. He helped her onto the back of the horse, then jumped up behind her.
They rode as fast as they dared as night fell. A cool rain started and Caralyn began to shiver. Everett wrapped his arms around her, before realizing what he was doing. He quickly put his hands back on the reins and muttered, “Sorry. I didn’t mean to grab you like that.”
“It’s fine. The warmth feels nice.” Caralyn grabbed his arms and wrapped them back around her.
Everett slowly inhaled her fragrance and his mind wandered into fantasies he knew would never come true, but enjoyed nonetheless.
“I lied before, Everett,” Caralyn whispered.
“About what?”
“Vandin isn’t actually rich. His mines stopped producing ore years ago. That’s why he’s marrying me. My uncle had gold, but no title. He thought if he married me off to a lord, he’d get a title and some land in exchange for gold. You guys would have gotten a paltry ransom, if anything at all.” Caralyn paused and twisted the reins between her fingers. “Vandin doesn’t even love me. He takes other lovers all the time and has a cruel temper. I think living with him wouldn’t have been much different than living with my uncle.”
Everett wasn’t sure why she was telling him this. “I’m sorry, Caralyn. You deserve better than him.”
“Thank you,” Caralyn replied, then started coughing.
“Is there somewhere else you want me to take you?” Everett gently rubbed her back as she coughed.
“An inn for the night would be a nice start. Cold wet weather always makes it difficult for me to breath. I have an ointment that I rub on my chest when it gets bad, but we left it back in the carriage. A warm fire would help though.”
Hervold and Rohlind were hunting them, but Everett knew that it wasn’t easy to track in the rain. He’d purposely gone several miles the wrong way, choosing to take the long route towards Vandin’s lands. There was a good chance that he’d lost them, and Everett was worried about Caralyn’s cough.
“We’ll stop at the first inn we see. Alright?”
“Thank you, Everett,” Caralyn murmured and rested her head on Everett’s arm.
* * *
It was another two hours before they found an inn and Caralyn’s cough had gotten worse. Everett was constantly massaging her back, hoping it would help, but it didn’t seem to be making any difference. The inn seemed run down, but there was smoke curling out of a chimney so there must be a fire burning inside.
Everett helped Caralyn down, then quickly tied his horse up in the stable. “Let’s get you inside,” Everett said.
The two of them pushed open the door and walked into the dimly lit common room of the inn. There were two men sitting at a table in the back, arguing loudly about a horse, and a bored looking innkeeper resting his head on his hands behind the bar. The innkeeper’s head shot up when he saw Everett and Caralyn, and he ran his hands over his apron and nodded in greeting.
“Good evening you two,” the innkeeper said. “Horrible weather out there, horrible. A bit late for travellers, I was just about to kick those two out and close up for the evening.”
“I guess we’re lucky then,” Everett said. “We’d like a room for the evening, one that has a fireplace, and something hot for the lady and I to eat.” Caralyn’s cough sounded a bit better now that they were somewhere warm and dry, but Everett still worried for her.
“This is for your trouble,” Caralyn said and smiled at the innkeeper, before sliding a gold piece to him.
Everett’s eyes widened in surprise. He didn’t know she had any gold on her, he figured Tael would have searched her when they first found her.
“Thank you mistress! I’ll see to your food right away. Here’s your room key, it’s the second door on the left after you go up the stairs.” The innkeeper handed them their key, then hurried to the kitchen to get their food.
“I knew a gold piece would put some spring in his step,” Caralyn said with a grin, before starting to cough.
“Let’s get you to that room.”
Caralyn nodded and Everett wrapped his arm around her, and supported her as best he could with his limp. They climbed up the stairs and found their room. It was surprisingly large and had the fireplace they requested.
“Not a bad room,” Everett muttered and helped sit Caralyn down on the bed. “Don’t worry, you can have the bed and I’ll take the floor.”
Caralyn looked at him intently and said, “Thank you for doing all this, Everett. Most men in your position wouldn’t risk their lives for a stranger.”
Everett flushed in embarrassment and started the fireplace. “Stay in here and warm up. I’ll go downstairs and get our food and something to drink.”
“Everett,” Caralyn said quietly as he put his hand on the door handle.
He turned back towards Caralyn and saw her laying on her elbow, watching him. “Yes?”
Caralyn lowered her eyes shyly. This was the first time Everett had seen her struggle to speak her mind. “Do you think I could come to your village? You made it so nice and peaceful, I don’t ever want to move back to the city. It’s filled with men like my uncle.”
Everett had already decided that he’d move back home, life as a bandit was dead to him. He couldn’t believe she’d want to live there too. “Of course. I think you’ll be disappointed though. It’s quiet, boring, and filled with simple folk, not what you’re used to.”
“It sounds perfect,” Caralyn said before smiling and closing her eyes.
Everett shook his head with wonder and slipped out of the room. A huge grin filled his face as he made his way down the stairs.
He walked into the common room and noted that the two men who had been arguing were gone, and the innkeeper had disappeared too. There was one man facing away from the stairs sitting with two mugs of ale. Everett saw the man slowly running his finger over the scabbard of his sword.
“You gonna stand there or come have a drink with me?” Hervold rasped.
“I won’t say no to a drink,” Everett replied and cautiously limped to the table and sat down, resting
his own sword beside him.
Hervold pushed a mug across the table and Everett grabbed it.
“Where’s Rohlind?” Everett asked.
Hervold took a long pull from his mug, then set it down and wiped foam from his mouth. “Not bad,” Hervold muttered in surprise. “I left that lumbering fool back in the camp, trying to hold his guts in his belly. Rohlind flew into a rage when he found Tael dead and you and the girl gone. He took a swing at me, so I opened him up with my sword.”
Everett took a sip of ale, as he tried to buy time to figure a way out of this. “The innkeeper and the others?”
“Dead. I hid them under a pile of hay in the stable. The girl?”
“She’s upstairs. The weather made her sick or we wouldn’t have stopped here.” Everett sipped his drink again, then casually rested his hand on the hilt of his sword.
Hervold’s eyes darted to Everett’s hand. “Don’t do it, Everett. You’re good and maybe in your prime you could’ve beat me. You have no chance with that limp of yours though. It’s gonna slow you down and I’ll take advantage of it. I don’t want to kill you,” Hervold growled.
“I don’t want to die,” Everett said and was surprised at how much he meant it. “You told me before that where you come from, each man chooses the path he walks. You chose the sword and I thought I did too. I thought I was a murderer and that was all this life held for me. It turns out there’s more though, Hervold. I care for this woman and I think she may care for me.”
Hervold laughed. “You’re a fool, Everett. Some pretty girl batted her eyes at you so you’d save her and you fell for it. Let’s go turn her in for the ransom and we’ll live like kings.”
“There’s no ransom, Hervold. The girl lied! Vandin has nothing! That’s’ why he’s marrying a rich merchant’s niece instead of some noble lady. The only chance at ransom we had died when Rohlind slit that fat merchants neck. Take the gold from the inn and leave us in peace,” Everett pleaded.
Hervold tilted his head to the side and stared at Everett a moment, weighing the truth of Everett’s words. “This is really what you want? You want to return to a life of thankless labour and boredom?”
